A former police officer and Congleton Scout leader has died, aged 94.
In a tribute, Alan Grounds was described as an “old-school Bobby” who was “brilliant” with the Scouts at the 1st Congleton Group.
Mr Grounds, who lived in Stone in his later years, died at Royal Stoke University Hospital on 17th December.
He spent 31 years with Cheshire Constabulary.
Born at West Point in Runcorn, he left school aged 14 and started working life as a plumber before becoming a painter and decorator.
He spent three years with the Cheshire Regiment during his national service, when he was based in Egypt and Berlin, and rose to the rank of sergeant.
He joined Cheshire Police in 1958 and was first posted in Sale, later moving to Bredbury, near Stockport, before he became a village bobby in Tarvin.
Less than a year later Mr Grounds was promoted to sergeant when he moved to Congleton.
On promotion to inspector, he moved to Macclesfield in 1978 for six years before returning to Congleton, where he lived with his family on Longdown Road, West Heath.
Ahead of his retirement in 1989, the “Chronicle” reported: “Congleton Police Station will soon be losing one of its most familiar and best-loved faces” and that “nobody can say he has not had a varied career going from plumber after leaving school, to village bobby and inspector”.
At the time of his retirement, Mr Grounds was chair of 1st Congleton Scouts, a group he had worked with for more than 20 years.
When asked what he would do in his retirement he said: “I will carry on with my interest in hiking, walking, caravanning and, of course, the Scouts, and I enjoy DIY.”
Mr Grounds said: “I will miss the job. I have always enjoyed it, but hopefully, I’ll enjoy a long and happy retirement.
“I have always enjoyed working in Congleton. The town has grown a lot since I first came, but the public in Congleton are still good.”
Earlier in his retirement year, more than 70 people had attended the annual meeting of the 1st Congleton Scout group where as its executive chair, Mr Grounds was among those presented with top Scouting awards. He was handed Scouting’s medal of merit for distinguished service.
Mr Grounds was the widower of June and leaves behind sons David and John.
Paying tribute to him, Douglas Parker, himself a former Scout leader in Congleton, having founded groups in Buglawton and Mossley, said: “Alan was a Bobby in Congleton for many years, when he was ‘Sgt Grounds’. He was an old school bobby, a spade was a shovel with Alan – he was a great guy.
“He was the group Scout leader at 1st Congleton Scouts based at Worrall Street for many years and helped with all the Gang Shows in the town over the years. His wife June was involved with the Scouts on the parents’ committee and was also involved with the Gang Shows.”
Mr Grounds’ funeral service will take place at Macclesfield Crematorium on Wednesday at 12.15pm.
